Welcome
Important Contacts
Alesco Learning Centre Structure
Term Dates 2012
Alesco Learning Centre Times
Learning in the first six weeks
Vision, Philosophy and Mission
Seven Clues to Being a Good Student
Learning and Study Skills
Assessment Policies and Procedures
Student Behaviour and Welfare
The Discipline Framework
Rights and Responsibilities
Important Information for Students
Absences and attendance
Dress
Mobile phones and other equipment
Illicit drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and weapons
Student, Carer and Emergency Contacts Update Form
Parent/Guardian/Carer Acknowledgement
Dear Student
Welcome to Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra. By now you will have some idea of what we are able to provide for our students and what we expect from students in return.
This handbook provides you with a quick guide to information about Alesco as well as a summary of policies that may impact on you. Further information on these policies is available to you should you require it.
This is a choice you have made. A commitment to continue and complete your education is not an easy one, and everyone has had a different journey that brought them to Alesco. We wish to congratulate you on your choice. We would also like to remind you that making this choice is just one step on your particular journey.
There are going to be trying times, times of stress and of course, times of fun ahead of us. As long as you are still trying and moving forward we will be here to support you the whole way.
We are here to provide you with an opportunity to make a difference to your future. It is you who must choose to take this opportunity with both hands and turn it into something wonderful.
We wish you all the best; we know you can make it.
Yours sincerely
All the staff of Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra Staff Handbook 2012Page 1
All staff at Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra can be contacted by phone, email, post or through the main administration office.
Postal Address: PO Box 1472 Wollongong NSW 2500
Location: 50-56 Auburn Street Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone: 02 4226 1622
Fax: 02 4226 1156
E-mail:
Website:
Staff Member / Position / Days Worked / E-mailRhonda Thearle / Lead Teacher / Monday – Friday /
Martin Levy / Teacher / Monday, Thursday, Friday /
Joh van Sant / Teacher / Tuesday, Thursday, Friday /
Susan Sharp / Teacher / Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday /
Wil Massey / Youth Support Worker / Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday /
Greg Fisher / Principal / Monday – Friday /
Louisa Raft / BusinessManager / Monday, Wednesday, Thursday /
Mirjana Sirijovska / Administration Assistant / Monday – Friday /
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra operates under the auspices of WEA Illawarra
ABN 14 062 944 950
Board of Studies School Number: 78007
DEEWR School Number: 29085
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra Student Handbook 2011Page 1
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra Student Handbook 2011Page 1
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra term dates generally correspond with NSW public school term dates. When we have pupil free days or other non-attendance periods, we will let you know in class and by giving you written confirmation.
If there are public school teacher strikes or pupil free days THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU and you are still required to attend.
Term dates for 2012 are
Term / Start Date / Finish DateTerm 1 / Monday 6 February / Thursday 5 April
Holidays / Friday 6 April / Sunday 22 April
Term 2 / Monday 23 April / Friday 29 June
Holidays / Saturday 30 June / Sunday 15 July
Term 3 / Monday 16 July / Friday 21 September
Holidays / Saturday 22 September / Sunday 7 October
Term 4 / Monday 8 October / Friday 7 December
Holidays / Saturday 8 December
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9.00 – 9.30 / Breakfast9.30 – 10.00 / General Activities
10.00 – 10.50 / Period 1
10.50 – 11.05 / Break (15 mins)
11.05 – 11.35 / Period 2
11.35 – 12.05 / Period 3
12.05 – 12.35 / Period 4
12.35 – 1.10 / Lunch (35 mins)
1.10 – 2.30 / Period 5
We remind you that there are no bells or time reminders at Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra. We expect you to become responsible for managing your own time, especially if you leave the property to get your lunch off site. It is expected that you are responsible enough to return to the Learning Centre in time for the next class.
Learning in the first six weeks
The first six weeks are very important to your success at Alesco. During this time you will work on communication and team building skills as well as your academic work. These skills will help you succeed as a student and as a young adult in the workplace. This is your opportunity to demonstrate to us that you are committed to achieving success. The expectation is that you will be here on time and participate in all activities. If you are unable to demonstrate your commitment to us by the end of the six weeks you will be reinterviewed and your enrolment may be terminated.
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra Student Handbook 2012Page 1
Context
The Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra operates under the auspices of WEA Illawarra. WEA Illawarra is a not-for-profit organisation that is part of the Adult and Community Education sector and is dedicated to the principles of life-long learning. As a Registered Training Organisation, WEA Illawarra is proud to be able to offer the community many quality adult education and lifestyle courses, accredited business training, English language services and other education which enhances social inclusion.
WEA Illawarra Vision
A brighter future for individuals and their communities.
Mission Statement
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra strives to provide young people who have not found success in traditional secondary education models an opportunity to learn, grow and achieve success in a smaller, more informal and supportive learning environment.
Philosophy
Inclusion
The philosophy of Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra is inclusive education. Every child has a fundamental right to education, and must be given the opportunity to achieve and maintain an acceptable level of learning.
Inclusive schools are those ‘which include everybody, celebrate differences, support learning, and respond to individual needs’. This inclusive orientation is the most effective means of combating discriminatory attitudes, creating welcoming communities, building an inclusive society and achieving education for all.
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra strives to achieve educational systems and programs designed and implemented to take into account the unique characteristics and needs of every young person. To further enhance this learning, staff work collaboratively with agencies within the wider community to provide opportunities to enhance student wellbeing.
The aim is to meet the challenge of ‘Education For All’.[1]
Values
The Learning Centre’s core values are reflected in the management and operation of the school and participation of students, with the Student Code of Conduct, welfare system and discipline framework all revolving around our Circle of Respect:
Acceptance
Learning
Empathy
Safety
Commitment
Opportunity
Relationships and Personal Growth
We aim to create positive relationships with our students. Breaking down barriers between students and teachers creates an environment in which young people feel comfortable learning.
We focus on helping young people believe in themselves and realise that they can shape their future and choose what it will be, regardless of what has come before.
We seek to provide opportunities for each young person to:
- grow as a person,
- learn how to form positive interpersonal relationships,
- enhance their desire to learn for learning’s sake,
- progress in their knowledge and skills.
We attempt to accept young people as they are, and however they choose to express themselves, within a framework of mutual respect.
We seek to provide learning opportunities for young people which prove their capabilities and help them reach their potential, in an environment that is designed specifically for their inclusion.
Adult Learning Environment
At Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra, students learn in an environment surrounded by other adult learners, who often unknowingly act as a community group role model. Students have the opportunity to take on the roles and responsibilities of learning as an adult does, in an environment that asks for greater responsibility but also offers greater freedom. The level of responsibility and freedom is tailored to meet the requirements and development of each student.
Psychological Frameworks
One of our underlying psychological frameworks is Dr William Glasser's Choice Theory (Glasser, 1998)[2], which states that almost all behaviour is chosen and that behaviour is one’s best attempt, at any given time, given the skills one currently has, to meet one’s needs. Glasser summarised these needs as:
- Survival
- Love and belonging
- Power
- Freedom
- Fun.
We aim to help our students evaluate their behaviours to see if what they have chosen to do or say is the most appropriate way to get what they really want or whether they needto develop a more effective way of meeting their needs.
Choice Theoryincludes Seven Caring Habits. Our hope is that everyone involved in the Learning Centre, including staff and students, will use the Seven Caring Habits, and eliminate the Seven Deadly Habits which are used to try and control other people’s behaviour.
Seven Caring Habits / Seven Deadly Habits- Supporting
- Encouraging
- Listening
- Accepting
- Trusting
- Respecting
- Negotiating differences
- Criticising
- Blaming
- Complaining
- Nagging
- Threatening
- Punishing
- Bribing, rewarding to control
Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra Student Handbook 2012Page 1
Students who have had trouble with teachers before can sometimes have some habits that are hard to break, or may not know what the signals are that teachers look for to indicate students are working well.
Also, if you believe that the teacher is picking on you for misbehaving or not participating when other students seem to be doing just as many things wrong, the problem might be that you have trained the teacher to look for you when there is a disturbance in class. If this is the case you can actually train the teacher NOT to look for you. This means you have to train others around you to believe that you are a good student who participates and doesn’t muck up.
There are ‘Seven Clues to Being a Good Student’ that will help you retrain yourteacher.
Clue Number 1
A good student makes eye contact with the teacher when he/she is telling the class what to do.
TIP: The way a teacher decides if you are listening is by whether you are looking at them.
Clue Number 2
A good student puts a hand up to answer questions and gives answers to show that they’ve listened.
TIP: Teachers don’t mind if you’re not quite exact or quite right as long as you give it a good try!
Clue Number 3
A good student asks questions on the topic when the teacher asks for questions.
TIP: Asking questions shows you were listening and are interested.
Clue Number 4
A good student makes sure he/she understands what to do and gets going on the task by the time you could count to 10.
TIP: Before putting your hand up to ask ‘what are we doing’ (because this shows you weren’t listening) try to think carefully about what you did hear and see if you can work it out.
Clue Number 5
A good student keepsworking until finishedand asks for help where needed.
TIP: If you finish early or are unable to go on with the work, find something else to do that will improve your knowledge or presentation of the work.
Clue Number 6
A good student makes his/her own decisions and is NOT lead by others and discusses it with the teacher.
TIP: If you are distracted by others sitting around you, you can choose to move away from them. Blaming them, though, is not good enough.
Clue Number 7
A good student makes sure that class and home work are complete and done as well as he/she can possibly do it.
TIP: If there is a good reason why you can’t complete the work you should discuss this with the teacher before you’re asked to hand in the work, that way it doesn’t sound like a ‘lame’ excuse.
A Final Make or Break Tip …
IMPORTANT: Your reaction when you are singled out for behaviour that you are NOT responsible for is very important. You should say nothing, rather than fire up in front of everyone. This will just cause an argument. You should try to accept what is being said at the time but speak privately (and politely, if possible) to the teacher at the end of the lesson.
The teacher will be more likely to listen to your side of the story if you remain calm.
How Long Does Training a Teacher Take?
If you are training a teacher, it can take at least 6 weeks before you can expect any major change in the teacher’s behaviour. It will take that long for them to create new habits. Don’t give up in this time, even if you slip up a couple of times or you think it’s making no difference. Provided that you work on these ideas most of the time, the teacher will eventually notice that you meet the criteria for ‘being a good student’.
Who else can help you become a good student?
At Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra:
- The Youth Support Worker
- Your Group Leader
Outside of Alesco Learning Centre Illawarra:
- Your parents/carers can encourage you and listen to your strategies.
- Your friends are also a great source of encouragement and support. Your friends should understand that you are trying to achieve big things here and that changing habits to become a good student is important.
Learning skills and study skills are learned abilities that students use to acquire knowledge and process information. To enhance your performance you need to develop and practisethese skills – it doesn’t just come naturally.
Some examples of learning and study skills are:
Effective listeningin class, in meetings and to peers and staff.
Understanding directionsespecially with class work, assignments, assessments and arrangements for all activities, so as not to increase your stress and anxiety.
Note taking- students should learn to make notes on the class work covered during the day in order to fully understand the work covered and to prepare for the long term requirements of exams and assessments. Learning your topic as you go, organising your work at the end of each day by reviewing, storing and filing worksheets will help you to organise your study.
Time management- students need to manage their time effectively as it is critical to overall organisational effectiveness. Students need to plan a schedule for the week which includes all schoolwork, school based activities, social activities, relaxation time and any other commitments. When this is working satisfactorily you need to plan a month ahead and then for the whole term so as to maximise your efforts for major examination and assessment periods.
Goal setting - students should set clear goals, both long term and short term, for the year in terms of their learning. Setting goals will support the effectiveness of your time management and organisation. It will allow you to hand in all work, assessments and prepare for examinations as well as maintain other co-curricular activities and interests.
Problem solving - these may be personal, school based or to do with academic study. The skills involved are essential for success and involve logical thinking and effective interpersonal skills.
Preparing for tests- success in tests is linked to the effective use of all the above study skills. Understanding the most effective way you learn is essential in preparing for examinations. This may be as straightforward as recognising you learn best in the morning, whilst others prefer the afternoon or evening. It may mean you prefer to learn in a structured, orderly way, whilst others prefer a less structured way.
What is important is that you are organised in all aspects of your learning and know which direction YOU are travelling! Support for your learning is offered through our staff, but it is also up to YOU to let us know if you’re having trouble, remember we are not mind readers!
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In accordance with the NSW Board of Studies Assessment, Certification and Examination Manual, student assessment will be based on three key areas:
- The student followed the course developed.
- The student applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to set tasks and experiences provided by the School.
- The student achieved some or all of the course outcomes.
Further information about Assessment will be given to you in a separate handbook.
Alesco Learning Centre has a central core value of respect that has been broken down into six areas. Our code of conduct reflects these areas:
Acceptance
Learning
Empathy
Safety
Commitment
Opportunity